Atletico Madrid's 2-0 win at Espanyol on Thursday evening means the capital club are now three points ahead of fifth-placed Sevilla with only two games remaining.

Atletico also boast a better head-to-head record against Sevilla this season, which means that the Andalusian club will need Javier Aguirre's men to drop points in both their final two outings.

Alves has not given up hope though, saying: "Atletico's victory hasn't discouraged us, we still have our chances.

"It is true that time is passing and while we don't only depend on ourselves it is more difficult. But while we continue having hope, we need to continue fighting and obtain the maximum number of points possible. Then we will see if luck is on our side."

On paper, Sevilla have arguably the easier run-in with matches against Betis and Athletic Bilbao, while Atletico host Deportivo La Coruna and then go to Valencia in their fixtures.

However, the local derby against Betis could put a spanner in the works for Sevilla, with Paco Chaparro's side having won four and drawn two of their last eight matches.

"It will not be like the game in the first half of the season (which Sevilla won 3-0). We know what we are up against and their team are at a good level," Alves said.

Sevilla defender Federico Fazio, who scored twice in his side's impressive 3-0 win over European rivals Racing Santander on Wednesday, is also wary about the damage Betis could do them this weekend.

Betis have had a largely disappointing campaign but the Argentinian youngster feels their neighbours could make up for a lot of that with a win over Sevilla.

"They can save their year by beating us, but we need the points to get into the Champions League," he said.

Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez has virtually a full-strength squad available to him, with only the injured Julien Escude and the suspended Adriano unavailable.

Betis are back at their Manuel Ruiz de Lopera home for this game after serving a one-match ban, which saw them play out a 1-1 draw with Real Valladolid as Seville's unused Olympic Stadium in midweek.

That result saw Paco Chaparro's side move six points clear of the relegation zone with only two games remaining, and captain is Juanito hopes his side can build in their recent good form by avenging their heavy defeat to Sevilla in January,

"The game in the first half of the season caught us at a bad time, with many players out, and in the end we paid dearly," the Spain international.

"As well as the fact that we could leave Sevilla outside of the Champions League places, the encounter on Sunday will give us a chance to take revenge.

"The foreigners in the squad already know the intensity of a derby for having played in January."

Chaparro has called up his entire 26-man squad for Sunday's match.